All eyes on AB Field

Date: November 01 2012

Chris Hartley

Queensland Bulls wicketkeeper Chris Hartley offers his view of Australian cricket throughout the summer.

With a full round of Sheffield Shield fixtures and the Australia A tour match scheduled in the next week, all eyes will be on Australia's domestic scene to see who is ready for the upcoming Test series against the South Africans.

My eyes, however, will be firmly on what's in front of me when the Queensland Bulls clash with a near-full strength New South Wales at Allan Border Field.

The Blues, like always, are blessed with plenty of talent and the side we will take on from Friday is no different.

It will be a huge challenge for the Bulls, matching it with an opposition that contains only two players who haven't played or toured with Australia.

I think it shapes as an intriguing battle; a NSW team overloaded with national players versus the reigning Sheffield Shield champions with a number of fringe players aiming up for higher honours.

And, within this battle, there are a number of potentially compelling performances to keep an eye out for.

Arguably Australia's two most important batters, Test skipper Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson, will be aiming for some time in the middle before the first Test at the Gabba.

While I'm hoping our Aussie boys are well prepared for that series, hopefully it won't come in the form of too much batting practice in our match.

David Warner is another who would like some runs, and the small boundaries of AB Field certainly won't contain his power game if he gets going.

I look forward to watching how our middle order – Usman Khawaja, Peter Forrest and Joe Burns – stacks up against these Test players.

Foz and Ussie have both spent time playing international cricket, albeit fleetingly, while Burns is a serious talent whose stocks must surely be on the rise.

They will no doubt be tested by a potent Blues attack but a knock of significance, especially in front of the Australian captain, couldn't do any harm.

Mitchell Starc will be most hoping to impress with the ball, in order to gain a first Test starting berth ahead of offie Nathan Lyon or another quick.

It's also our first look at Josh Hazlewood for some time, the young quick having been injured more often than not over the last 18 months.

His recent Champions League performances were impressive and he looks like he might have an extra yard of pace now too.

The three NSW Test batsmen won't have it all their way either with a Bulls attack lead by Alister McDermott.

The flaming outswing bowler made significant progress last season which saw him UK-bound in July for Australia A.

He is fit and can bowl long spells, and I'm hoping his away swingers on a tight off stump line can trouble Pup and Watto.

Whichever way you look at it, this Shield match should make fascinating viewing.

This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.